Laundry costs across operations are continuing to increase by an inflation-busting 4.28%
compared with the same quarter last year – and a much steeper 16.92% in the last three
years.

Figures come from the Textile Services Association’s quarterly Textile Services Cost Index
published this month, as Regenex continues to see a rise in new business enquiries and
high levels of retained custom.

Five in six categories of outgoings had gone up since quarter two of 2024/25 with only
energy seeing a slight decrease of 0.89%.

Sources include the Government’s National Minimum Wage rates, textile costs from the
Office for National Statistics and energy prices from the Department for Energy Security and
Net Zero Gas and Electricity.

The biggest increase in outlay has been for staffing which makes up the largest share of an
average laundry’s turnover at 40%. Wage costs have gone up 30.36% in the last three years
and 9.44% in the preceding 12 months.

Textile stock comprising 15% of total spending, the second most significant category of
resources to be paid for, has increased by 12.28% since 2022/23 and 1.37% since 2024/25.

Paul Hamilton, technical director of Regenex, said: “The expense of running a laundry
continues to increase sharply and the pressure to save money intensifies. Alongside a desire
to reduce carbon emissions, the need to keep costs under control is a key driver for
customers who come to us.

“We can help laundries get the most out of every item of linen without expending valuable
staff time on futile attempts to restore whites.”